Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-06-18
THE ANGRY WATERS.
The Missouri and Sun River on Their
Annual Rampage.

The Missouri and Sun River on Their
Annual Rampage.
AS predicted, the June rise of the Mis-
souri, and Sun rivers are unprecedented ID
the knowledge of the Oldest settler. This
morning the Missouri was fully two feet
higher than in 1885, and is still rising at
the rate Of one inch each hour. The low
lands along the Missouri above here are all
flooded, while up Sun River valley In
places the river is from n to two miles
In width. At this point no great damage
to property can possibly be done by the
flood, except to drive the s'tenters" camped
along the river bank farther back On the
uplands, but
GRAVE FEARS ARE ENTERTAINED
for the safety of property and lives in the
village of Sun River, twenty miles above
here.
]. O. Gregg of Fargo, who arrived here
last evening On the Helena coach, informs
us that Wednesday morning at 8 O'Clock,
at which time he passed through the town,
the whole place was submerged. The
bridge across the river at that point was
dangerous to cross, and the party were
advised not to attempt it. He says the APP
proaches to the bridge We're beginning to
give way and it was seemingly only a
scratch that they made the crossing with
out accident. The following night the
water
RAISED FIvE FEET
by actual measurement at Sun River Leay-
ings, and such being the case it is more
than likely the Sun River bridge has either
been swept away or badly damaged, while
the loss of property in the village itself
must necessarily be great.
The passengers o the coach which ar
rived here last evening report a hard trip.
After leaving Sun River, Wednesday fore
noon, they reached Muddy, eleven miles
above here, where they found their further
progress barred by the absence of the
bridge, which had been washed away.
They struck camp there, expecting assist
ance m~omentarily from the Helena
bound coach. During the balance of the
day and the following night they waited
in vain, as the Helena-bound coach could
not reach them owing to the washing u
Of c~ulverts between Great Falls and the
Muddy. Yesterday morning they at
tempted to turn back and reach Reinicke's
rlace at the Leavings, but the
WATER HAD RISEN so RAPIDLY
during the night that the coach could not
make the passage, and they were forced
to resort to boats to gain the house.
About noon yesterday the extra coach
which left here for Helena in the morn
ing made the passage through to the
Muddy, where a transfer of passengers
and mail was made by boat across the
stream. While at the Leavings yesterday
morning an attempt was made by a horse
man to reach Sun River, but the water was
so deep, that after going a short distance
he turned back. As the telegraph line
is in its usual condition, no word can be
got from above to throw any light upon
the condition of the other streams.
Superintendent Root Of the st1ge line,
who was at the Leavings yesterday, is
making
DESPERATE EFFORT
to keep his stock moving, and has made
arrangements for just such an emergency
as this. He has boats at all the streams
and his stock are distributed along so as
to make transfers whenever necessary.
He left orders yesterday for the Great
Falls coach to be at the Muddy to-day at
II o'clock to take the mail, which, he
would have there at that time. Superin-
dent Root is determind fellow, and it may
be depended upon that there will be as
little interruption in the mails as possible.
At2 o'clock this afternoon the water is
still raising. Sometime during the fore
noon the cable Of Davis ferry was struck
by aheavy lot of driftwood, which losen-
ed its fastenings at n end and
IT SUNK.
We understand Davis will Immediately
take steps to recover it. The cable of
Dexter's lower ferry has also sagged, and
its center is submerged two Or three feet
under water, and it is feared that it also |
may be washed out. The approaches to |
the ferry are all submerged and if the wa
ter rises a few inches higher, traffic will
be stopped until the waters subside.